Drama in the Chase is still a possibility
With two races left, nature of auto racing means anything can happen
 Chris Graythen / Getty Images If Jimmie Johnson suffers another disappointing race and Mark Martin is able to capitalize once again, the Cup champion could be decided in the season's very last race. |
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Put me down for a yes vote. That is, put me down as saying yes, there is still hope for a good Chase.
Maybe it is the optimist in me, maybe it is just a gut feeling, maybe it is the old injury I sustained falling off the garage roof as a kid continuing to affect my decision-making process. But I think drama will lay its fickle hand upon the head of NASCAR the next two weeks.
It's true that I had given up last week. It was after Talladega and Johnson was able to come through 500 miles with a showroom-fresh car while those chasing him were tumbling around the track like dice on a craps table.
The wild-card race had come and gone and not only had nobody made a move on Johnson and his bid for a fourth-straight championship, they had lost ground and probably, serious hope.
On to Texas. Nice, wide, smooth, safe Texas. All Johnson needed was a bit of fuel left in the cell on the final lap and 10th-place finish there and it was hello trophy, good-bye drama.
On to Phoenix and Homestead and it would be time to break out the good stuff.
That talk about how in racing anything can happen? About how one bad valve spring or one mistake by a back-marking squirrel who is looking for ride next year and, hence, driving way over his head, could change the entire feel of the Chase? All wishful thinking, I had come to realize. I had, as they say on the Hollywood entertainment shows, made peace with myself.
Then came Lap 3 at Texas and out went Johnson. True, none of those dogging Johnson in the Chase were able to capitalize much, but there it was; graphic, sideways-sliding, tire-screeching proof that Johnson was susceptible to misfortune. You know, just like he was a human being.
The mood afterward was not exactly blood in the shark tank.
Mark Martin, second in points, remained pessimistic, as is his nature. Jeff Gordon cursed the fact he was not able to take better advantage. But you know, you just know, both headed home with inner grins.
Johnson is going to have to get in trouble at least one more time. Preferably, for those of us who want to see a hot Chase, at Phoenix on Sunday. If not, then at Homestead.
But it could happen.
It could happen because this is auto racing and in auto racing, one bad valve spring or one mistake by a back-marking squirrel who is looking for ride next year and, hence, driving way over his head, could change the entire feel of the Chase.
Jim Pedley is managing editor of Racin' Today. Read more NASCAR news at racintoday.com.
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